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Thread injection basics - material handling

OK, I have an injector and I bought some material to play with. I can put thread in cloth. The next step is to hem a small project. The problem is material handling. Is the correct approach to pin the whole hem every 6 inches or so then feed it in or is there an easier way? I trying to run a 4 ft long hem 1/2 in wide.

Well I cant start giving advice until I learn from the experts. I can tell you for me that pinning help me to forget about holding the materials together and concentrate more on the speed I was sewing as well as following the seam allowances.

There are many different techniques that people use to keep hems straight.

My Mom is an amazing seamstress, and I was taught to fold over and iron (depending on the material) the edge of the fabric to keep it in place, or pin it as you mentioned. Whatever works best for you, and the fabric you are using. Practice and patience are key.

The technique varies as much as the number of people doing it. The long and short of it is don't try to run a 4' hem/seam in one pass. If you are a professional stitcher with the right kind of machine and lots of experience you can do it. But six to eight inches is about as long a segment as most novice DIY folks can handle. At that rate some folks can fold as they go. I will do a rolled hem in two swipes and usually don't have to pin but I do have to readjust each single fold in start and go increments. You do what works and then as you get better you can play around with other techniques until you find the one that fits your personality and skill level. But stop and go is the best starting approach.

I may be slow... But I sure am gimpy.

"Bless you child, when you set out to thread a needle don't hold the thread still and fetch the needle up to it; hold the needle still and poke the thread at it; that's the way a woman most always does, but a man always does t'other way."
Mrs. Loftus to Huck Finn